GHOST TOWN TRAIL:
BLACK LICK-EBENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
HOODLEBUG TRAIL:
BLACK LICK-INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Last Updated: February 25, 2024
Length: Ghost Town Trail; 32.1 miles
Ghost Town Trail; Rexis Branch; 4.1 miles
Ghost Town Trail; Rexis Branch; Northern Spur; 1.9 miles
Hoodlebug Trail; 11.3 miles
Hoodlebug Trail Extension; 2.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy. Flat stone-dust rail trails.
Directions: Ghost Town Trail; Western End/Hoodlebug Trail; Southern End/Hoodlebug Trail Extension; Northern End
To Start from Saylor Park in Black Lick; From the intersection of Routes 22 & 119 in Blairsville follow Route 119 north 2 miles to Black Lick. Turn right on Main St and veer left onto Old Indiana Rd. Turn left into Saylor Park.
In Black Lick two rail trails converge. The Hoodlebug Trail, which travels North to Indiana & Hoodlebug Trail Extension which travels South towards Blairsville (more of a commuter trail that combines on-road, with a trail alongside Route 119) and the Ghost Town Trail which travels East through Dilltown, Wehrum & Vintondale where the trail splits. The Ghost Town Trail; Rexis Branch travels North to Belsano, while the main trail continues East through Twin Rocks, Nanty-Glo to Ebensburg.
The Ghost Town Trail follows the rail bed of the former Ebensburg & Black Lick Railroad from Black Lick to Ebensburg. The trail derives its name from numerous mining towns that once existed along the railroad corridor. In Vintondale, a spur trail known as the Rexis Branch travels along the North Branch Blacklick Creek. The Hoodlebug Trail follows the abandoned Indiana Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Built in the 1850's, the Indiana Branch was the first railroad to be constructed in Indiana County. 'Hoodlebug' was the local nickname for the self-propelled passenger coach that ran on the line until 1940. The corridor also was part of the Catawba Path, a Native American trail that extended from the Carolinas to upstate New York. For more information visit; HOODLEBUG TRAIL & GHOST TOWN TRAIL .
Starting from Saylor Park in Black Lick; From the parking lot head past the green gate and ball field to a paved trail that takes you left, South, past the basketball courts to the intersection of the Ghost Town Trail, Hoodlebug Trail & Hoodlebug Trail Extension.
Ghost Town Trail:
Note; Heading West the Ghost Town Trail ends where the Hoodlebug Trail Extension turns South, after 0.2 miles, as the old rail bed is blocked by the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Hwy.
Heading East along the stone-dust Ghost Town Trail [Western End] you'll travel underneath Old Indiana Rd.
Note; Distances are given for the trail located on a sign board attached to the bridge abutment. Use Caution as most road crossings don't have crosswalks.
An old RR bridge take you across Blacklick Creek where you'll pass by the remnants of trains past. The partially shaded trail parallels the creek with Mileage Markers posted every mile. At 0.6 miles you'll come to an information sign. This was as far as I traveled. The trail continues uninterrupted through forested State Game Lands before finally crossing Route 259 after 6.3 miles in Hesbon. Parking area & Map Board. Continue along the creek, passing by the Buena Vista Furnace site before traveling underneath Route 56 at 9.6 miles. Cross Blacklick Creek via an old RR bridge at 11.6 miles and again at 12.2 miles before coming to the Cramer Pike parking area at 12.5 miles in Dilltown, where you'll find restrooms and picnic tables. Cross Cramer Pike as the trail continues along the creek. Cross River Rd at 15 miles as the trail turns Northeast. Pass by the Wehrum Road parking area in Wehrum at 16.2 miles. Map Board. Come to an intersection at 18.4 miles.
Note; The Ghost Town Trail; Rexis Branch bears left, North, bringing you to the Rexis Road parking lot. Map Board. See Below.
The Ghost Town Trail continues East, crossing the North Branch Blacklick Creek, via an old RR bridge. Cross Main St and pass by the Eliza Furnace Historic Site in Vintondale. Pass by the Main Street parking lot at 18.9 miles. Map Board, benches overlooking South Branch Blacklick Creek and a pavilion with an old bell. You quickly pass by a Spur Trail on your right.
Note; This Spur Trail follows the South Branch Blacklick Creek East to the Vintondale Soccer Field.
Continuing East, you cross the South Branch Blacklick Creek at 19.5 miles. You again cross the creek and come to the Plank Road parking lot in Twin Rocks at 22.3 miles. Here the trail turns Southeast along the creek. Pass through the 1st Street parking lot in Nanty-Glo at 24.2 miles. Cross Chestnut St in downtown and pass by McMullen Memorial Field before re-entering the woods. Cross the creek at 25.8 miles over an old RR bridge and the trail soon turns Northeast. Cross an old RR bridge over Beulah Rd at 28.7 miles. The trail soon turns East, away from South Branch Blacklick Creek and travels underneath Route 219 at 30.1 miles. Travel underneath W High St at 31 miles as you enter Ebensburg. Multiple road crossings and parking areas. Pass by Ebensburg War Memorial Field on your left. Come to Rowena Dr after 32.1 miles and the end of the trail.
Ghost Town Trail; Rexis Branch:
Starting from the intersection with the Ghost Town Trail in Vintondale; I haven't checked out this trail. The Ghost Town Trail; Rexis Branch bears left, North, bringing you to the Rexis Road parking lot after only 0.1 miles. Map Board. The trail follows the North Branch Blacklick Creek through the woods. Cross an old RR bridge over the creek at 2.6 miles before crossing Red Mill Rd. Travel underneath Benjamin Franklin Hwy, next to the creek and come to Vic Miller Rd at 4.1 miles. Travel left, North, on-road along Vic Miller Rd back to the trail at 4.4 miles. Vic Miller Road parking lot here. The Ghost Town Trail; Rexis Branch crosses here.
Note; Heading left, North, the Ghost Town Trail; Rexis Branch follows the North Branch Blacklick Creek. [Re-zeroing Mileage] You'll cross Adams Crossing Rd, followed an old RR bridge over the creek at 1.1 miles. Here the trail leaves North Branch Blacklick Creek behind and continues North along Stevens Run. Come to Iverson Rd and the end of the trail after 1.9 miles in Nicktown.
Heading right, Northeast, the Ghost Town Trail; Rexis Branch travels through the woods, quickly crossing an old RR bridge over Elk Creek. Cross Duman Rd at 5.8 miles. After 7.2 miles the trail turns South. Cross a pedestrian bridge over Benjamin Franklin Hwy at 9.8 miles in Belsano. Finally the trail turns Southeast, crossing a pedestrian bridge over Expedite Rd at 12 miles. Pass by the North Street parking lot before coming to the end of the trail at Church St after 12.4 miles.
Hoodlebug Trail Extension:
Starting from the intersection of the Ghost Town Trail & Hoodlebug Trail; The Hoodlebug Trail Extension briefly heads West, along the wide stone-dust Ghost Town Trail, before turning South after 0.2 miles. Distances are given for the Hoodlebug Trail on a sign board located here. Travel past the Burrell Park parking lot, where you'll find a picnic pavilion & playground. [This next 1.7 mile section is all on-road along low traffic roads] Continue South along Burrell Rd and turn right on Park Dr. Turn left up Blaire Rd, using caution crossing Main St. Continue following Blaire Rd utilizing "bike route" signs to Divinity Hollow Rd where you'll head right before rejoining Blaire Rd again to your left. Just before the end of Blaire Rd turn right down Clare St where you'll rejoin the paved Hoodlebug Trail Extension at 1.9 miles. This was as far as I traveled. The trail travels South, passing through a tunnel underneath Route 119. Here the trail follows Route 119 South (more of a commuter path) before reaching Cornell Rd at 2.7 miles. From here you can access Blairsville Middle & High Schools.
Hoodlebug Trail:
Starting from the intersection of the Ghost Town Trail & Hoodlebug Trail Extension; The Hoodlebug Trail travels back through the Saylor Park parking lot out to Indiana Ave and heads left, on-road briefly, before crossing over Blacklick Creek where you'll pick up the paved trail. Travel up to the old rail bed where the stone-dust trail continues North past a gate at 0.4 miles. Blacklick Creek is below along your left. Another paved trail takes you down a hill and underneath Route 119 at 0.8 miles. This was as far as I traveled. You travel underneath a RR bridge, that crosses over Blacklick Creek and come to where Two Lick Creek enters Blacklick Creek. The trail now continues North along Two Lick Creek briefly, before heading inland where it parallels Lee Berm Rd at 1.3 miles. At 2 miles the trail travels alongside Route 119 past the towns of Coral and Graceton. At 4.3 miles the trail pulls away from Route 119 and travels through the outskirts of Homer City. You enter Homer City and come to W Elm St at 5.8 miles. Here you'll need to turn right for a short on-road detour off the old rail bed. Turn left along Railroad Ave, then left on Church St and you'll pick up the stone-dust trail on your right. Continuing North, you cross over Yellow Creek, before crossing Main St. Pass by a converted old RR car at 6.2 miles that now houses the HOMER CENTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY . Behind this old RR car is Floodway Park and a parking lot. The trail parallels Mullen Ave, then travels between Old Route 119 and Yankeetown Ave through Homer City. After 6.5 miles the trail travels alongside Yankeetown Ave briefly, before following alongside the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Hwy. Cross an old RR bridge over Two Lick Creek at 7.6 miles, as you leave Homer City behind, before you travel underneath an active RR bridge. The wooded trail then pulls away from the Hwy, where it parallels some RR tracks, before crossing Stoney Run twice. You then travel underneath the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Hwy and across Stoney Run at 9.2 miles. The trail now parallels Wayne Ave along an industrial corridor. Come to an intersection at 10.3 miles.
Note; Left, East, this Spur Trail crosses over Stoney Run and some RR tracks out to University Dr at 0.3 miles.
Continuing North, parallel to some RR tracks, you cross Rose St before you cross the RR tracks and travel alongside S 13th St. Come to another intersection at 10.9 miles.
Note; Left, East, a Spur Trail crosses S 13th St and continues to Robertshaw Dr.
Continuing North, parallel to some RR tracks, you pass by some tennis courts before coming to Maple St and the end of the trail after 11.3 miles.
HH
CLICK HERE FOR GHOST TOWN TRAIL MAP
CLICK HERE FOR HOODLEBUG TRAIL MAP
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT